3 ms·
I think the US peaked in 1999, which coincides with the launching of the ISS and the peak of the internet bubble. I happened to be 23 so I can't really refute t
by saulpw 2y ago
I think the US peaked in 1999, which coincides with the launching of the ISS and the peak of the internet bubble. I happened to be 23 so I can't really refute the article's thesis that it's all about the beholder's age. But even though politics was terrible as always, it was still the "end of history", just before the highly contentious 2000 election and 9/11 and subsequent war in Iraq and subsequent financial crisis etc.
There was such hope for what the new century/millennium would bring, and now that the hope has been crushed, I don't think we'll ever get it back. Present-day teens have little hope for our global future, and even if you're excited about AI and the future technological developments, it's pretty clear from the past 25 years that the solution to our myriad global problems is not more technology.
- silisili 2y agoI tend to agree, when bounded by my lifetime. 1999 was probably the best, especially since 2001 brought 9/11 and that whole circus, wars, recession, etc. It was probably the last time I felt 'hopeful' as a nation. And people always fought about politics, but didn't seem quite as hostile.
- ericmcer 2y agoIt is really interesting to watch late 90s sitcoms (Friends, Seinfeld, etc.). Everyone is hopeful, they all view their low incomes and renting apartments as temporary conditions that they can turn around at anytime. 9/11 really popped our bubble of feeling untouchable, then we destroyed our economy with endless wars and watched the government bail out the banks in 2008. Not a huge surprise that we are less optimistic now.
- hi-v-rocknroll 2y ago1999 was the height of dot-com absurdity. It was bonkers in a drunk, rager way. 2000-2002 - awful 2003-2005 - pretty good (for me) 2006-2007 - not great, not terrible 2008-2009 - really bad